CP

A big winter storm is expected to bring strong winds, bitter cold and snow to parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states in which some areas could see over a foot of snowfall.

On Monday, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning in effect for the New York City area starting Tuesday at noon until 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Meteorologists have forecasted that the storm could bring up to 10 inches of snow in New York City over a foot to parts of long island. The areas surrounding Washington D.C. could see up to six inches of snow.

Meteorologists predict that snowfall will begin late Tuesday morning, with the heaviest snow falling between Tuesday afternoon and evening. The precipitation should end by Wednesday morning as the storm moves offshore and out to sea.

"The heavy snow may expand northward along the coast, as the storm approaches the Atlantic Ocean, taps into more moisture and that moisture is released into the cold air," said meteorologist Bernie Rayno.

In addition to the snow the storm will also bring extremely cold artic air with wind gusts expected to be as high as 40 mph. temperatures will drop anywhere between 12 to 22 degrees during the storm along the coast with wind chill expected to bring that number to the single digits and even below zero in some areas.

In other parts of the mid-Atlantic like Washington, D.C., Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, the storm could bring the biggest snowfall of the season, with 3 to 6 inches of snow in those areas.

"For Washington, D.C., this could be the biggest storm since Jan. 26, 2011, when about 5 inches of snow fell," said Accuweather Winter Weather Expert Brian Wimer.

"Even though the storm is coming during the day Tuesday, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Roanoke and Richmond, Va., Dover, Del., Philadelphia, New York City, and Atlantic City, N.J., will have enough snow to shovel and plow," Wimer added.